Air America

Set in Laos, in 1969, Air America wants to be a satire on the clandestine CIA backed air operations that misfit American pilots ran, delivering food, livestock, and occasionally opium, throughout the country. The opening credits, which feature Laotians looking to the sky as pigs in crates come parachuting down to the tune of Edgar Winter's "Free Ride," promises an interesting film. That promise is reneged fairly quickly as we are introduced to Gene (Mel Gibson) and Billy (Robert Downey, Jr.), the seasoned pro cynic and the new kid on the block optimist, respectively. On their maiden test flight, Billy tackles an unfamiliar landscape during a storm, flying through clouds and barely missing mountains and statues, while Gene and a fellow pilot argue in the back of the plane over crayons and coloring books. This scene is representative both of the level of humor and of reality throughout the film. No matter the danger level--and plenty of dolled-up dangerous events come their way--the boys never show a glimmer of fear (or for that matter, intelligence), they simply trade one-liners. What could have been a knowing satire ala-M*A*S*H, is instead nothing more than an excuse to crash some planes and keep the special effects crew working. In one of the most unbelievable finales of the year, Billy convinces the hard line Gene to dump his cargo of saleable guns to take on a group of refugees who are being fired upon. It makes for an explosive, and totally hokey, ending. Although Vietnam war veterans respond differently to different films, it's safe to say that most will find Air America offensive in its trifling treatment of the war. But after grossing 30 million at the boxoffice it's bound to popular on video. Resist the temptation to buy. Not recommended. (R. Pitman) [DVD Review--August 10, 2004--Lions Gate, 113 min., R, $19.98--Newly re-mastered and sporting a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, extra features on this special edition of the 1990 action comedy include audio commentary by co-screenwriter/producer John Eskow, a dated four-minute 'Flight Log' making-of (Mel Gibson's Aussie accent is still on the thick side), a 'Pre-Flight' storyboard-to-film comparison segment (5 min.), the 22-minute retrospective production documentary 'Return Flight: Revisiting Air America,' featuring new interviews with cast and crew (though not Gibson or Robert Downey Jr.), and historical and political observations. Bottom line: the fact that Gibson and Downey are missing-in-action on this should tell you something about this not-so-special-edition of a not-so-special-film.]